The Hairy Ape

The Hairy Ape is a classic expressionist masterpiece by Eugene O’Neill. It tells the story of Yank, a laborer who prides himself on being the strongest stoker on a large, transatlantic ocean liner. He dismisses the socialist gripes and jaded frustrations of his shipmates as he believes it makes them weak. However, when Yank’s safe space in the bowels of the ship is invaded by the wealthy, socialite daughter of a steel tycoon, who brands him a “filthy beast”, his world is turned upside down. Haunted by the idea that she viewed him as nothing more than a “hairy ape”, he embarks on a journey of revenge, stumbling through the wealthy neighborhoods and disenfranchised underbelly of New York society. Yank soon realizes that he does not know where he belongs in this city and begins to question his identity and place in the world.